Eyewear

ABSTRACT

A technique to detect an eye potential of a wearer of an eyewear by using an electrode abutting on the glabella of the wearer has been known, but it is desirable to surely cause the electrode to abut on the glabella so as to prevent deterioration in the detection accuracy of detecting a biosignal indicating an eye potential, myogenic potential, brain wave or the like. In view of this, an eyewear including: a frame; a first electrode that abuts on a glabella of a wearer of the eyewear; and an electrode holding unit that holds the first electrode such that a distance between the frame and the first electrode is changeable is included.

The contents of the following patent applications are incorporatedherein by reference: No.JP2014-082796 filed in JP on Apr. 14, 2014 andPCT/JP2015/061383 filed on Apr. 13, 2015.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to an eyewear.

2. Related Art

A technique to detect an eye potential of a wearer of an eyewear byusing an electrode abutting on the glabella of the wearer has been known(please see Patent Document 1, for example).

PRIOR ART TECHNICAL DOCUMENTS Patent Documents

[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No.2013-244370

It is desirable to surely cause the electrode to abut on the glabella soas to prevent deterioration in the detection accuracy of detecting abiosignal indicating an eye potential or the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates one example of eyeglasses.

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates one example of eyeglasses.

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a state where a wearer wearseyeglasses.

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates one example of a glabella electrodeunit.

FIG. 5 schematically illustrates another example of the glabellaelectrode unit.

FIG. 6 schematically illustrates another example of the glabellaelectrode unit.

FIG. 7 schematically illustrates another example of the glabellaelectrode unit.

FIG. 8 schematically illustrates another example of the glabellaelectrode unit.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, (some) embodiment(s) of the present invention will bedescribed. The embodiment(s) do(es) not limit the invention according tothe claims, and all the combinations of the features described in theembodiment(s) are not necessarily essential to means provided by aspectsof the invention.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 schematically illustrate one example of eyeglasses100. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the eyeglasses 100. FIG. 2 is apartially enlarged view of the eyeglasses 100 seen from behind. Theeyeglasses 100 may be one example of an eyewear.

The eyeglasses 100 according to the present embodiment includes a frame110, a left lens 124 and a right lens 126. The frame 110 has a front120, a left temple 130 and a right temple 140.

The front 120 has: a rim 122 that holds the left lens 124 and the rightlens 126; a left nose pad 152; a right nose pad 154 and a glabellaelectrode unit 200.

The left nose pad 152 is supported by a support member 151 placed in thefront 120. The support member 151 may be a linear member having one endthat is placed in the front 120, and another end that supports the leftnose pad 152. A left electrode 162 is placed on a front surface of theleft nose pad 152. The left electrode 162 abuts on the nose of a wearer10 when the wearer 10 who is to wear the eyeglasses 100 wears theeyeglasses 100.

The right nose pad 154 is supported by a support member 153 placed inthe front 120. The support member 153 may be a linear member having oneend that is placed in the front 120, and another end that supports theright nose pad 154. A right electrode 164 is placed on a front surfaceof the right nose pad 154. The right electrode 164 abuts on the nose ofthe wearer 10 when the wearer 10 wears the eyeglasses 100.

The glabella electrode unit 200 may be arranged to be positioned infront of the glabella of the wearer 10 when the wearer 10 wears theeyeglasses 100. A glabella electrode 166 is placed on a front surface ofthe glabella electrode unit 200. The glabella electrode 166 abuts on theglabella of the wearer 10 when the wearer 10 wears the eyeglasses 100.The glabella electrode unit 200 may be arranged at any position of theframe 110 as long as such a position can cause the glabella electrode166 to abut on the glabella of the wearer 10. The glabella electrodeunit 200 is placed for example in the bridge of the frame 110. Theglabella electrode 166 may be one example of a first electrode.

The left temple 130 has a circuit board 132 and an earth electrode 134.The earth electrode 134 is electrically connected to the circuit board132. The earth electrode 134 may be arranged on a lower surface of theleft temple 130. The earth electrode 134 may be arranged at a positionat which it abuts on an upper portion of an ear of the wearer 10 whenthe wearer 10 wears the eyeglasses 100.

The right temple 140 has a battery 142 and a reference electrode 144.The battery 142 is electrically connected to the circuit board 132 viathe right temple 140, the front 120 and the left temple 130. A wire thatelectrically connects the battery 142 and the circuit board 132 is forexample embedded in the frame 110. The battery 142 supplies electricalpower to the circuit board 132.

The reference electrode 144 may be arranged on a lower surface of theright temple 140. The reference electrode 144 may be arranged at aposition at which it abuts on an upper portion of an ear of the wearer10 when the wearer 10 wears the eyeglasses 100. The reference electrode144 is electrically connected to the circuit board 132 via the righttemple 140, the front 120 and the left temple 130. A wire thatelectrically connects the reference electrode 144 and the circuit board132 is for example embedded in the frame 110.

The left electrode 162 is electrically connected with the circuit board132 via the left nose pad 152, the support member 151, the front 120 andthe left temple 130. A wire that electrically connects the leftelectrode 162 and the circuit board 132 is for example embedded in theleft nose pad 152, the support member 151, the front 120 and the lefttemple 130.

The right electrode 164 is electrically connected with the circuit board132 via the right nose pad 154, the support member 153, the front 120and the left temple 130. A wire that electrically connects the rightelectrode 164 and the circuit board 132 is for example embedded in theright nose pad 154, the support member 153, the front 120 and the lefttemple 130. The left electrode 162 and the right electrode 164 may beone example of a pair of second electrodes.

The glabella electrode 166 is electrically connected with the circuitboard 132 via the glabella electrode unit 200, the front 120 and theleft temple 130. The glabella electrode 166 is electrically connectedwith the glabella electrode unit 200. A wire that electrically connectsthe glabella electrode unit 200 and the circuit board 132 may beembedded in the front 120 and the left temple 130.

The circuit board 132 according to the present embodiment may detect aneye potential by using the left electrode 162, the right electrode 164,the glabella electrode 166, the earth electrode 134 and the referenceelectrode 144. The circuit board 132 may be one example of an eyepotential detecting unit. The circuit board 132 may process a detectedeye potential. The circuit board 132 may process an eye potential byusing electrical power supplied from the battery 142.

Processing an eye potential may be performing arithmetic processing onthe eye potential. For example, the circuit board 132 performs addingand subtracting processing on an eye potential of the left electrode 162relative to the glabella electrode 166 as its reference, and an eyepotential of the right electrode 164 relative to the glabella electrode166 as its reference. Also, processing an eye potential may beperforming signal amplification processing on the eye potential. Also,processing an eye potential may be performing digitization processing onan eye potential signal.

Also, processing an eye potential may be transmitting the eye potential.For example, the circuit board 132 transmits an eye potential to aninformation terminal 300. The circuit board 132 may transmit an eyepotential to the information terminal 300 by wireless communication. Forexample, the circuit board 132 transmits an eye potential to theinformation terminal 300 by using a wireless LAN such as Bluetooth(registered trademark), Wi-Fi (registered trademark) or the like. Theinformation terminal 300 may be a mobile phone such as a smartphone, atablet terminal, PC (Personal Computer) or the like.

Also, processing an eye potential may be, according to the eyepotential, detecting a line of sight of a wearer of the eyeglasses 100,detecting a blink, detecting sleepiness, or the like. The circuit board132 may transmit, to the information terminal 300, a detection resultabout a line of sight, a detection result about his/her blink, adetection result about his/her sleepiness, or the like.

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a state where the wearer 10 wears theeyeglasses 100. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the glabella electrode 166abuts on the glabella 12 of the wearer 10. Also, the left electrode 162abuts on a nose 14 of the wearer 10. Similarly, the right electrode 164also abuts on the nose 14 of the wearer 10.

The left electrode 162, the right electrode 164 and the glabellaelectrode 166 desirably always keep surely abutting on the wearer 10 soas to continuously detect an eye potential of the wearer 10 while thewearer 10 wears the eyeglasses 100. Also, when an impact is applied tothe eyeglasses 100, desirably the glabella electrode 166 is pushed ontothe glabella 12 of the wearer 10, and thereby application of anexcessive impact to the glabella 12 can be prevented.

In view of this, the glabella electrode unit 200 according to the thepresent embodiment holds the glabella electrode 166 such that a distancebetween the frame 110 and the glabella electrode 166 is changeable. Theglabella electrode unit 200 may be one example of an electrode holdingunit.

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates one example of the glabella electrodeunit 200. The glabella electrode unit 200 may have an elastic member 210and a wire 212. The elastic member 210 is placed in the frame 110, andholds the glabella electrode 166. The wire 212 electrically connects theglabella electrode 166, and a wire 150 embedded in the frame 110. Thewire 150 electrically connects the wire 212 and the circuit board 132.

By the elastic member 210 holding the glabella electrode 166, thedistance between the frame 110 and the glabella electrode 166 can bemade changeable. For example, if the wearer 10 wears the eyeglasses 100and the glabella electrode 166 is pushed onto the elastic member 210,the distance between the frame 110 and the glabella electrode 166becomes short. In this manner, by the elastic member 210 holding theglabella electrode 166, even if relative positions of the wearer 10 andthe eyeglasses 100 change, the elastic force of the elastic member 210allows the glabella electrode 166 and the glabella 12 to remain abuttingon each other. Also, if the glabella electrode units 200 are to beplaced in respective ones among a plurality of pairs of eyeglasses wornby a plurality of the wearers 10, by the glabella electrode units 200making changeable the distances between the frames 110 and the glabellaelectrodes 166, differences in distances between the glabellas 12 of thewearers 10 and the frames 110 can be absorbed for each wearer 10 amongthe plurality of wearers 10 and for each pair of eyeglasses among theplurality of pairs of eyeglasses. Also, if an impact is applied to theeyeglasses 100, the impact can be absorbed by the elastic member 210,and an impact to be applied to the glabella 12 can be reduced.

The elastic member 210 may be any member as long as it has elasticity.For example, the elastic member 210 is elastomer resin.

FIG. 5 schematically illustrates another example of the glabellaelectrode unit 200. The glabella electrode unit 200 may have aconductive member 220 and a wire joining unit 222. The conductive member220 and the wire joining unit 222 are placed in the frame 110. Theconductive member 220 has elasticity and conductivity. The conductivemember 220 holds the glabella electrode 166.

The wire joining unit 222 electrically connects the conductive member220 and the wire 150.

By the conductive member 220 holding the glabella electrode 166, thedistance between the frame 110 and the glabella electrode 166 can bemade changeable. For example, if the wearer 10 wears the eyeglasses 100and the glabella electrode 166 is pushed onto the conductive member 220,the distance between the frame 110 and the glabella electrode 166becomes short. In this manner, by the conductive member 220 holding theglabella electrode 166, even if relative positions of the wearer 10 andthe eyeglasses 100 change, the elastic force of the conductive member220 allows the glabella electrode 166 and the glabella 12 to remainabutting on each other. Also, if an impact is applied to the eyeglasses100, the impact can be absorbed by the conductive member 220, and animpact to be applied to the glabella 12 can be reduced.

The conductive member 220 may be any member as long as it has elasticityand conductivity. For example, the conductive member 220 is conductivesponge. Also, the conductive member 220 may be conductive rubber. Also,the conductive member 220 may be conductive resin having elasticity.

FIG. 6 schematically illustrates another example of the glabellaelectrode unit 200. The glabella electrode unit 200 may have a connector230 and a connector 232. The connector 230 is placed in the frame 110.The connector 232 holds the glabella electrode 166. The glabellaelectrode 166 may be provided on a front surface of the connector 232.

The connector 232 is attachable to and detachable from the connector230, and electrically connects the glabella electrode 166 to theconnector 230. The connector 230 electrically connects the glabellaelectrode 166 and the wire 150. The connector 230 may be one example ofa first connector. The connector 232 may be one example of a secondconnector.

A connector 234 with a height which is different from the height of theconnector 232 may be coupled to the connector 230. The connector 234 maybe one example of a second connector. Due to the connector 232 and theconnector 234 with different heights being attachable to and detachablefrom the connector 230, the distance between the frame 110 and theglabella electrode 166 can be made changeable.

The connector 230 and at least either of the connector 232 and theconnector 234 may have elasticity. Thereby, if an impact is applied tothe eyeglasses 100, the impact can be absorbed by the connector 230 andat least either of the connector 232 and the connector 234, and animpact to be applied to the glabella 12 can be reduced.

FIG. 7 schematically illustrates another example of the glabellaelectrode unit 200. The glabella electrode unit 200 may have a firstmember 240 and a second member 242. The first member 240 is placed inthe frame 110. The second member 242 holds the glabella electrode 166.The glabella electrode 166 may be provided on a front surface of thesecond member 242.

The first member 240 holds the second member 242. The first member 240and the second member 242 may be electrically connected at a contactportion between the first member 240 and the second member 242. Thefirst member 240 may have a wire 241, and the second member 242 and thewire 150 may be electrically connected by the wire 241. The secondmember 242 and the glabella electrode 166 may be electrically connected.The glabella electrode 166 may be electrically connected to the wire 150via the contact portion between the first member 240 and the secondmember 242, and the wire 241.

The second member 242 moves relative to the first member 240. Forexample, the first member 240 holds the second member 242 by a screwstructure. Thereby, by rotating the second member 242, the distancebetween the frame 110 and the glabella electrode 166 can be changed.

Also, the first member 240 may hold the second member 242 such that if acertain degree (or higher degrees) of force is applied thereto, thedistance between the frame 110 and the glabella electrode 166 changesstepwise. For example, it has a structure in which the first member 240locks the second member 242 with a plurality of steps, and if a certaindegree (or higher degrees) of force is applied, the lock is unlocked.Thereby, the distance between the frame 110 and the glabella electrode166 can be changed. Also, if an impact is applied to the eyeglasses 100,the second member 242 moves stepwise relative to the first member 240,and so the impact can be absorbed.

The connector 230 and at least either of the connector 232 and theconnector 234 may have elasticity. Thereby, if an impact is applied tothe eyeglasses 100, the impact can be absorbed by the connector 230 andat least either of the connector 232 and the connector 234, and animpact to be applied to the glabella 12 can be reduced.

The explanation in relation to FIG. 7 is about an example in which thefirst member 240 contains the second member 242, but this is not theonly example. The second member 242 may contain the first member 240.

FIG. 8 schematically illustrates another example of the glabellaelectrode unit 200. FIG. 8 exemplarily illustrates an example in whichthe second member 242 contains the first member 240.

The explanation in the present embodiment is about an example in whichthe left temple 130 has the earth electrode 134, and the right temple140 has the reference electrode 144, but the left temple 130 may havethe reference electrode 144, and the right temple 140 may have the earthelectrode 134. Also, the explanation in the present embodiment is aboutan example in which the left temple 130 has the circuit board 132, andthe right temple 140 has the battery 142, but the left temple 130 mayhave the battery 142, and the right temple 140 may have the circuitboard 132.

Also, in the present embodiment, the eyeglasses 100 that detect an eyepotential is explained as one example of an eyewear, but this is not theonly example. The eyewear may be any eyeglasses as long as they use anelectrode. For example, the eyewear is eyeglasses that processes a brainwave, eyeglasses that processes images, eyeglasses that processes sound,or the like.

Also, in the present embodiment, the eyeglasses 100 is explained as anexample of an eyewear, but this is not the only example. The eyewear maybe sunglasses, a head mount display, or the like.

The shape of each part of the eyeglasses 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 toFIG. 3 is exemplary, and the shape is not limited to the one illustratedin the figures.

While the embodiments of the present invention have been described, thetechnical scope of the invention is not limited to the above describedembodiments. It is apparent to persons skilled in the art that variousalterations and improvements can be added to the above-describedembodiments. It is also apparent from the scope of the claims that theembodiments added with such alterations or improvements can be includedin the technical scope of the invention.

The operations, procedures, steps, and stages of each process performedby an apparatus, system, program, and method shown in the claims,embodiments, or diagrams can be performed in any order as long as theorder is not indicated by “prior to,” “before,” or the like and as longas the output from a previous process is not used in a later process.Even if the process flow is described using phrases such as “first” or“next” in the claims, embodiments, or diagrams, it does not necessarilymean that the process must be performed in this order.

EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

-   10: wearer; 12: glabella; 14: nose; 100: eyeglasses; 110: frame;    120: front; 122: rim; 124: left lens; 126: right lens; 130: left    temple; 132: circuit board; 134: earth electrode; 140: right temple;    142: battery; 144: reference electrode; 150: wire; 151: support    member; 152: left nose pad; 153: support member; 154: right nose    pad; 162: left electrode; 164: right electrode; 166: glabella    electrode; 200: glabella electrode unit; 210: elastic member; 212:    wire; 220: conductive member; 222: wire joining unit; 230:    connector; 232: connector; 234: connector; 240: first member; 241:    wire; 242: second member; 300: information terminal

What is claimed is:
 1. An eyewear comprising: a frame; a first electrodethat abuts on a glabella of a wearer of the eyewear; and an electrodeholding unit that holds the first electrode such that a distance betweenthe frame and the first electrode is changeable, wherein the electrodeholding unit has: a first member placed in the frame; and a secondmember that is electrically connected with the first member, and movesrelative to the first member, and the first electrode is provided on afront surface of the second member.
 2. The eyewear according to claim 1,wherein the electrode holding unit includes an elastic member.
 3. Theeyewear according to claim 2, wherein the elastic member includes aconductive member electrically connected with the first electrode. 4.The eyewear according to claim 3, wherein the elastic member isconductive sponge, conductive rubber or conductive resin.
 5. The eyewearaccording to claim 1, further comprising: a pair of nose pads; and apair of second electrodes placed on front surfaces of the pair of nosepads.
 6. The eyewear according to claim 5, further comprising an eyepotential detecting unit that is electrically connected to the firstelectrode and the pair of second electrodes, and detects an eyepotential of the wearer.
 7. An eyewear comprising: a frame; a firstelectrode that abuts on a glabella of a wearer of the eyewear; and anelectrode holding unit that holds the first electrode such that adistance between the frame and the first electrode is changeable,wherein the electrode holding unit has: a first connector placed in theframe; and a second connector that is attachable to and detachable fromthe first connector, and electrically connects the first electrode tothe first connector, and the first electrode is provided on a frontsurface of the second connector.